Welcome to Week 12 of the Whole House Organization (WHO) Challenge, where my aim is to organize every room in my home in 14 weeks or less.

There are only two more weeks to go in this challenge so let's make it count. Today we're organizing the laundry room. This post will be especially challenging for me. Why? Well, because I don't actually have a laundry room. Keep reading as I explain

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First, let me ask. Do you remember this?

For those of you scratching your head I bewilderment, wondering what the heck I'm talking about, several months ago, I did a post on How to Decorate on a Slim Budget. In it I explain how I planned to use the two end tower pieces of the unit above (which I purchased for only $75), for another project. Well that project is my soon-to-be laundry room.

After painting the two end towers, and selling the center cabinet, I ended up with the two pieces you see on the right in the photo above.

We had some dead space in a small portion of our L-shaped basement that was serving absolutely no purpose at all. In fact, as is the case with most unused spaces, it became a dumping ground for all kinds of stuff. You can see evidence of that in the photo below.

So I suggested to my husband that we turn it into a utility closet. But the more I thought about it, the more the idea of a laundry room/utility closet appealed to me.

Sure, I'd love a dedicated laundry room, but in a small space, it's not always practical. Besides, the laundry is now located in an unfinished portion of our basement which will eventually be revamped to accommodate my husband's office and a small half bath. So I had to seize the opportunity! Anywhoo... cut to the chase... here's what the "laundry room" looks like so far.

Keep reading and I'll explain the fake washer/dryer

Items that most people store in their garage go here since we don't have one

There's even a shelf for foodstuffs that won't fit in my tiny pantry

These canvas bags hold 30lbs each. Flexibility is key to maneuvering in small areas.

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. That is NOT a real washer and dryer. It's a mock set that I made with the exact measurements if a real washer/dryer.

You see, my husband is one of those people who needs to "see" an idea before he's completely on board with it. Whenever I ask him about a hair cut, a new outfit, or a new concept, his answer is always the same: "Hmmm...I have to see it on, or try it out first". This is especially the case when it comes to home decor.

So before going out to purchase any new appliances, I meticulously measured every inch of this space to make sure it they would fit. Here is how I mapped out my plan.

As you can see, this space is not large by any means. But I managed to get everything we had inside of it, with a few shelves to spare. If you're struggling with organizing your small laundry closet, here are some tips that might help:

1. Pull out everything and separate into three piles: donate, discard, and keep

2. Give every think a good scrub, and paint if necessary to freshen up the space

3. Map out your plan - Create an inventory list of all of the items you will need in your laundry room. Use this handy project worksheet to measure the areas of your space and decide what storage solutions are needed. Use the backside to draw your plan.

4. Label Everything - EVERYTHING -Sometimes when you're tired, you just need to be TOLD what to do. A label can do that for you. So use them generously. I used the "piling"system to organize this space. So when typing out the labels, I included an itemized list (in smaller print) of what each bin contained. In large print I typed the general category.

Sometimes you just need to be told what to do. Labels come in handy for that.

This still needs a lot of tweaking, but I'm sufficiently pleased for now. I'm excited to see the final look of the space, and will be sure to update you on it. For now though, I'd love to know how you organize your laundry room? Do you have a linear laundry closet or a full one?

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Oh wow, this project turned out so great. It amazes me what white can do to older wood furniture. But of course, I'm most impressed with the organizational piece. I think mapping it out as you mentioned is a must.

Reply

Ola

4/3/2017 12:48:34 pm

Yes, white is an important color in small (and often dark) spaces. It helps me to see things more readily.

I'm in awe every time I see your organization creation! I need to do this in my laundry room. I have a nice size space but I'm not utilizing the space efficiently. I will refer back to this post when I get my act together. LOL thanks.

Reply

Ola

4/3/2017 12:46:49 pm

Lol! Thanks L.C. Please feel free to contact me if you need any help with your laundry area. You know how to reach me.

I love how neat and organized your laundry area is! It's so true that you can fit a lot into a small space if you plan it out and organize it properly. Believe it or not, my laundry area is even smaller than yours and I'm jealous of all the storage space you've fit in there!

Reply

Ola

4/3/2017 12:41:08 pm

Oh wow! I can't imagine what a challenge that may be. I'd love it if you could email me a pic. I'm interested to see how you and others make their small spaces work.

I am impressed. You are creative and the tips you gave are very useful. Our laundry room fits a full washer and dryer and my is it snug. It has one shelf with room to hang wet clothes at the bottom of it. We use the shelf for laundry products and have added over the door hooks to hang more wet clothes. We make the best of our very snug space.

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Ola

4/3/2017 12:39:52 pm

That indeed is the key to loving where you live - make the best of it. People in other places of the world live on far less, but they also create beautiful spaces. I try to look at them for inspiration.

I wish I had your organizational skills. I am definitely challenged in that area!

Reply

Ola

4/3/2017 12:19:12 pm

Ahh...don't be fooled. I wasn't born this way. It has taken me years to hone this skill. Just start small, and then work your way up to larger projects. I hope that I'm able to share more helpful tips with you in the coming months.

I love this! Love your washer & dryer drawing lol. We have a ful laundry room however I really need to make a plan for it. It was one of my favorite things about our house when we bought it, mainly because I was finally getting an actual room this time. I love the glam baskets!

Reply

Ola

4/3/2017 12:10:39 pm

The fake "washer/dryer" combo...I know... intense. But had to do SOMETHING to illustrate this to my husband. Let's hope he appreciated the effort.

It looks awesome!! My laundry room desperately needs an overhaul... it's in such a tiny awkward space in my basement. Someday I'll get to it... love your idea of using the shelves for extra storage too.

Reply

Ola

4/3/2017 12:09:15 pm

Thanks Amy. The laundry room is the not the most glamorous place in the home. But if I must do the laundry, I'd like for the space to look nice.

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Deimarys

4/5/2017 01:59:44 pm

Those tags give such an amazing touch! Looks super organized and chic!

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Bonjour!

Welcome to "my place". I'm Ola, a self-confessed décor addict and DIY think-tank. I love working with small spaces. Please make yourself comfortable, and let's get to know one another better.